Joined: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 604
Location: McLean, VA, USA
Posted:
Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:01 pm
The major thing to master to be able to drive a stick shift car is how to start it moving. Thing that does not take a bit of your effort on automatic car, here requires some skill. ALL people who start driving manual cars have difficulties learning how to start a car. It is doable, however, and I'm pretty much sure that everybody can learn how to drive a stick shift car with just an average level of determination.
It does not take the whole travel of your clutch pedal to engage/disengage your clutch. The engagement process itself usually occupies less than a third of its travel. All the rest is just a kind of a cushion zone. So, the first thing you do - you divide the whole travel of your clutch pedal into three zones. First being "still fully disengaged", last being "already fully engaged", and the middle one being just that - "engaging".
Why would you want this? Because what really matters for how smooth you are able to start your car is how you operate clutch and gas pedals when you are in "engaging" zone.
Your next task is to get a feel for where engaging zone begins. You can find it really easy - when you slowly release your clutch pedal, you reach the point were engine sound starts to change a bit and, if you have tachometer, you see a slight drop in engine rpms.
Well, telling where engaging zone ends is not that easy. You can't really do this when you are just starting to learn, but don't worry, this will definitely come just a bit later.
So, now we are ready to start. After all this preliminary explanation the actual process of starting sounds really simple:
- depress the clutch pedal
- shift into 1st
- quickly release clutch pedal to the beginning of engaging zone
- while in engaging zone, simultaneously release clutch pedal and depress gas pedal, trying to keep engine rpms slightly higher than idle
- as soon as you reach the end of engaging zone, drop release the clutch pedal - you don't need to smooth it anymore
- operate gas pedal to accelerate.
That's it! You are up and running!
Last edited by Misha on Sat Apr 10, 2010 7:49 pm; edited 5 times in total
if you're first learning to drive a stick, find someone who has NOT been driving one their entire life. They will not give you useful information. find someone to drive you to a large empty parking lot and then shut up and let you drive
Also, remember, while you're teaching your legs what to do, give it a bit of extra gas and let out slowly. This is where that person who's driven stick their entire life will start getting annoyed with you for not doing it perfectly. The point is though, you won't do it perfectly at first and its better to burn the clutch a bit than to keep bucking and stalling the car.
I have owned a 2009 EX Manual for 7 months. I have driving a manual transmission for that long as well. I took lessons for a month or so before buying the car and am a very satisfied manual owner (gas mileage, fun-factor).
I am still though learning the ropes in optimizing the shifting and am having trouble w/ the first to second shift (there's always this lurch). I suspect this is caused by letting off the clutch too soo, but also I think I may shifting too early.
If I shift around 3500-4000 rpms the lurch seems to go away. It seems unavoidable any earlier. But this approach (from the sounds) seems a bit robust. Any thoughts?
First check whether the gear is in neutral or else there are chances for a clash with the vehicle parked in front of you. then twist the key in anticlockwise direction and aplly full clutch and shift to 1st gear n then accelerate slowly releasing the clutch
This reminded me of what happened yesterday when my husband told me to drive our stick-shift car inside our garage. It's actually part of my re-training to driving stick-shift cars. I was so afraid of running the car through the garage that I had my right foot on top of the brakes ready to stomp on it if I can't control the car. Needless to say, the car kept on 'shutting down'. Turned out I didn't need to step on the brakes at all but just to let go of the clutch just a little bit to get it moving.
The Stick-shift cars are more difficult to drive, and you must be skilled to drive them. Why not choose an automatic easy ride, which can turn your driving in to comfort, especially while driving in heavy traffic? If this is what you think, you must read this essay before you make up your mind. The purpose of this essay is to contrast stick shift transmission cars with automatic transmission cars. People who drive stick shift cars know the difference and the advantages of having total control of your car engine; people who drive cars with automatic transmissions do not.
Cars with automatic transmissions are a great way to drive around because they do not require much driving skill. People who don’t like to drive usually will choose an automatic transmission which is one of the main problems. People who drive cars with automatic transmissions often do not pay as much attention as they should. Cars with automatic transmissions have improved through modern chips that have developed better shifting and response with the driver just pressing on the gas. However, they are not as much fun because they are not as challenging. Race cars, for example, do not use automatic transmissions.
Stick shift cars need skilled driving which has advantages. Cars with Stick shifts are very fuel efficient. Cars with a stick shift will respond better to the driver which makes them safer. People who are used to shifting gears will focus more on their driving making it more efficient and safe. When a driver shifts a gear down to reduce their speed, they are actually saving on brake repairs. Cars with stick shifts have more power, and tend to respond better when you accelerate. Another reason for driving stick shifts is that it is just more fun! Stick shifts will make your driving more interesting. Race drivers use the stick shift to take driving to a higher level for maximum performance.
Your personality will make you decide which is better. Cars are made for driving, and driving must be fun. While driving a car with an automatic transmission will be easier and comfortable, driving a car with a stick shift will make you a better driver with a better performance. Driving an automatic is just a part of driving that corresponds to leading the car. However, driving a stick shift will make the driver control the machine. Always remember to drive safely and buckle up!
Learn the location of and feel of passing through the gears. First learn to shift the gears without the car running (pushing the clutch in each time). Then, from the passenger seat, try it with someone else driving the car and operating the clutch. Be sure to place the stick all the way into gear--until it won't go any more--but don't force it. If you stop halfway, you will hear an incredibly unpleasant grinding sound which means your car is not in gear.
Eventually, you will know when to shift by feel, but early on you'll have to act deliberately. Even if you've never been in a car before, you can tell when a car is in the appropriate gear: the car's not making a coughing and chugging sound (gear too high) but it's not making a high-revving sound either (gear too low). If you have a tachometer, shift around "3" (3000 rpm) on each gear or every 15 miles per hour (1st gear 1-15, 2nd 15-30, 3rd 30-45, etc.). This is only a general rule, of course, and higher powered autos will deviate from this. Shift before you hear that loud revving sound.
Step 2: Start it up
Put the car in neutral before starting, or you will jump ahead. Keep in mind that most new cars will not start without the clutch pressed down. Leave the shifter into neutral while the car warms up. Alternately, start the car in gear with the clutch pedal pushed to the floor, then shift into neutral, release the clutch pedal, and let the car warm up.
Step 3: Protect the clutch, yourself and the car
The clutch is the mechanism that allows the gears to transition back and forth smoothly. If you pull the car in or out of gear without using the clutch, or release the clutch only halfway into gear, you will hear an amazingly unpleasant sound. Avoid this.
It's difficult to avoid some sort of wear and tear on the clutch when learning how to drive a stick shift. If you go slowly at first and pay close attention, you can feel (in your feet) where the clutch engages and disengages. If you learn that well, you'll put less strain on your car. You'll also be able to drive any stick shift more smoothly from the get-go.
Avoid needless acceleration when the clutch is partially engaged. When at a stoplight, don't get in the habit of holding the clutch in for more than a few seconds or you will have other problems down the line. Instead, put the car in neutral while stopped for any period of time.
Popping the clutch: Invariably, you will miss your gear (or release the clutch too quickly) and the car will lurch ahead. Often at the outset, you will pop the clutch too quickly and stall the car. Don't worry, it happens to everyone. Just get those exercises out of the way before you find yourself in bumper-to-bumper traffic. .
Step 4: Find the G spot
Here we are at the most important junction of the stick shift world: the door to acceleration. Driving a stick shift is all about that magical place where the clutch comes up and the gas pedal goes down. It's that seamless place where the gears are shifted and the car accelerates. Let's take first to second on a flat road as an example: First gear going steady, clutch in as you come off the gas quickly, then off the clutch slowly while pressing in the gas.
That place in the middle where the clutch pedal is to the floor and you're off the gas is where you take the shifter from first to second. Get those feet and hands used to working together.
Here we go once more:
Revving high (around 3000 rpms or at 15 mph).
Clutch in and gas off.
Move the shifter smoothly from first to second.
Slowly off the clutch while pushing on the gas.
Completely let your foot off the clutch and gas it up.
Same time next gear!
Step 5: Now try downshifting
Downshifting is the act of moving appropriately to lower gears while slowing down. This is the essential difference between the operation of an automatic transmission and one of manual persuasion: downshifting not only helps you slow the car, but it also puts you in the right gear for the speed. Downshifting is your friend - especially in bad weather or on hills, where immediate braking can be dangerous.
Keep in mind that you may shift down only one gear or simply apply the brakes. Again, knowing your range in each gear will help determine what's needed.
While downshifting, move from clutch to brake while in gear. This will help you slow down without revving too high between gears.
If you are driving 45 mph in fourth gear and come upon a stop sign ahead:
Push in the clutch and shift down to third while using the brake.
Let the clutch out slowly to avoid high revs.
Next, do it again into second before you stop.
Don't downshift into first!
Step 6: Learn the subtleties of reverse
Be very careful in backing up. The reverse gear is very quick and can jump out at you. To get into reverse, sometimes you need to run the shifter through the other gears first with the clutch in.
The clutch is key while going in reverse. Since reverse is so quick, let out the clutch slowly and push it back in while using the brake if necessary; you will likely be able to back out of any spot with this simple measure.
Step 7: Win the hill challenge
Find a hill with little traffic. Use your emergency brake when coming to a stop. When the light turns green to go, shift into first, start to accelerate slowly as you release the clutch pedal, then release the emergency brake just as you feel the car engage the gear. This way you are using the brake to keep you from rolling back. If you stall, put on your brake and start again.
Step 8: Remember the parking brake
It is important to note that the emergency brake is very important when parking a stick shift car, because there exists no "park" gear to keep the car from rolling. Some rely only on the pull-up emergency brake, usually sufficient in most situations. But for extra safety, leave the car in gear AND use the emergency brake.
Step 9: Practice these scenarios
In the neighborhood, 25 mph: Start, 1st gear, change to second gear, run either high rpm in second gear or low rpm in third. Sometimes run high to low second gear depending on speed.
On the highway: High rpm in third or fourth onto the highway at the appropriate speed, then fifth gear (if available).
Going down a steep hill: Keep the car in a gear that will aid the braking process, the engine sounds like it's working but not screeching. You may press the clutch in and out to further complement your braking.
After starting the car press the clutch and shift to 1st gear and dont release the clutch too fast. It results in bumping your car in the engine ceases if you do so then you have to start over again.
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